Portable stage



April 14, 1925.

E. T. PURDY ET AL PORTABLE STAGE filed Dec. 14, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l Wm44% WW April 14, 1925.

E. T. PURDY ET AL PORTABLE STAGE Filed Dec. 14, v1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2ll QIIII HHHWI IH H HI.

awuwwlioz Ira 720mm 7%)? I difficult and expensive.

Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,533,337 PATENT OFFICE.

EVA THOMSON PURDY AND CHAUNCEY ALLEN CORNELL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PORTABLE STAGE.

Application filed December 14, 1921. Serial No. 522,450.

To all whom it may concern:

vBe it known that we, EVA THOMSON PURDY and CHAUNCEY A. Connnnn, bothcitizens of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in thecounty of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Portable Stages, of which the following is acollapsible and reversible scenes;

Figure dis a perspective View of a por tion of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section fFigUIQfiJiS a. perspective view of oneof the junctionsfor thetrolley system used in shifting scenes;

I V a o I P F gure '71s a horizontal section there-or; ;Figure' 8 is asect1on showingthe manner of nesting the sections of the cyclorama forshipment.

, For the satisfactory presentation of dramatic work, a proper stagesetting is indispensable, Manybuildings which are frequently used for"such entertainments are unprovided with a stage andthe temporaryequipment of proper stage settings is both WVith my improvement anybuilding accommodating the audience can be quickly equipped with a stageand practically allof the accessories which are needed. My improvementconsists essentially of a collapsible or knock-down frame which, whenerected, serves as a support for the curtains, scenes, lights,cyclorama, and other equipment. This frame preferably comprises posts orcolumns A,

preferably formed of tubing, which are connected-at their-upper ends bylaterallyextending members B through the medium of quick detachablefittings C. At the front there is formed a truss or arch as by means ofa pair of transversely extending members B and B engaging the columns Aand provided at the center with the connecting strut D and havingdiagonal braces E and E. All of the members of the truss are detachable,the tubes preferably engaging thefittings by a slit telescopic joint, sothat the structure may be assembled or disassembled. The front of theframe is suitably draped, as indicated at F, to conceal the fran'ieworkand the draw-curtains (i are supported from the lower member B of thetruss. At the top of the frame there are arranged transverse members Hforming a support for a trolley system from which the shiftable scenesare suspended These members H may be of any suitable construction, butpreferably are tubular, having slots I extending longitudinally at thebottom of each member and adapted to receive shiftable members J for thecurtains or scenes. To provide for quickly shifting these curtains andscenes to any desired location on the stage, the members H are connectedto each other by junction fittings K, which are provided with crossslots L, the arrangement being such that a suspended scene may beshifted from one member to another and thereby transported to anydesired location.

The scenery is placed upon collapsible frames, the canvas beingpreferably painted on both sides. These frames consist of bars,preferably tubes M, to which the canvas is attached preferably by snapfittings N. Each frame issupported by a central hanger O which engagesthe slot I of one of the members H having a spherical head 0 within thetube. This central hanger permits of quickly changing a scene by turningit upon the hanger as a swivel and presenting the reverse side. \Vhenknocked down for shipment, the frame members are detached and the canvasrolled into a compact bundle.

One important accessory of the stage is the cyclorama or reflectingsurface arranged at the rear which, when suitably lighted, gives theeffect of sky and distance. For this purpose we employ a knock down orportable structure which may be quickly erected and as quickly takendown and arranged compactly for shipment. As shown, P are curved plates,preferably formed of sheet metal, and P are straight plates secured tosaid curved plates tangent to the field of vision from the front.

the curved plates being; arranged at thetop and the straight plates atthe bottom. A

series of such pairs of plates are connected" to extend across the stageand preferably sulliciently beyond the opposite sides of the rear of theframe so as to cover the entire The top plates rest upon the top of therear frame bar B and may be secured thereto: by any suitable means.Thus, when suitably lighted, the inner surface of these plates P and Pwill produce the desired cyclorama eff'et.

W here the apparatus is used for enter.- tainments out of doors,suitable curtainsare arranged about the frame to form a coinp'leteenclosure and the entrance and dressin rooms may be provided at thesides as indicated at Q. i r

With the construction as described, When fl'znocked' do vn' fo'rtransportation, all of the V the cyclorania n i'embers of the frameworkmay be separated from each other and packed in small compartments. Theplates 1F and P of detached from each other and iiested or suitablypacked for shipment, In erecting the apparatus, the members of the frameare first assemb le'ch'the curtains and scenes are hung upon' theframeworx and the cyclorama and other accessories are suitablypositioned. The lighting effect may be produced by several series oflights suitably located on the frame and connected by conduits orarmored cables for the elec trical conductors. As. indicated in Figure1, there are three rows of lights R, R and R arranged at the top of theframe cen- V tra-lly; thereof, and" S indicates the conduit for theelectricalconductors leading to the source of current and to thecontrolling switches (not shown); Lights of various colors are arrangedin each bank or series to produce any effect required;

1n i se,jthe 'sc'enery'Whic-li is not needed is shifted from the trolleysystem to the range of observation. However, in change of scene theClQSlIGCl frame is shifted along trolley to the proper position orfo-r aquick change of scene it may be merely reversed by turning on theswivel;

What we claim as our invention is: I. In a portable stage, thecombination with a knock-down frame, of a knock-down cycloramacomprising a series of longitudinally curved plates, and vertical platesse-- 'cured to said curved al'ates tan ent to the i 2:)

curves, the curved plates havingoffset portions resting on the upperedges of the vertical' plates and detachably secured to the top of saidframe. 7

In a portable stage, the combination with a knockdown frame, and acurtain, of asupport for said curtain carried by said frame andincluding transversely extending and longitudinally extending tubularmembers. having longitudinally extending slots therein, junctionfittings connecting the adjacent ends of said members and having crossslots connecting into the slots in said members, anda hanger secured tosaid curta'in and movable in the slots in the transverse and longtudinally extending 'meinbers whereby said curtain may be moved rlongitudinally and transversely of said frame. 7 v V 7 4. 1n a portablestage, tliecombination with a knock-down frame," and a curtain,

. of asupport for said curtain carried by said frame and includingtransversely extending and longitudinally extending tubular meinbershaving longitudinally extending slots therein, u'nct'ioii fittingsconnecting theadjacent ends of said members and having cross slotsconnecting into the slots in said members, and'a hanger secured to saidourtain and movable in the slots in said members, said hangerhaving aWeight movable within said tubular members permitting said 7 curtain tobe reserved as desired. side of the frame, Where it Wlll be out of Intestimony whereof e afiix 'our signatures. 7

EVA THOMSON. PURD-Y. r CHAUNCEY ALLEN CORN-ELL;-

